The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that severe short-term
rainfall deficiencies persist
in the far southeast of the country after
July delivered only around 40 to 70% of its average rainfall. However,
deficiencies in East Gippsland (Vic), the Southwest Slopes and Central and
Southern Tablelands (NSW) were removed by heavy rain at the start of the
month. In central and northwestern Australia, medium-term deficiencies
were also significantly reduced by widespread above average falls in July.

5-month rainfall deficiencies

For the 5-month period from March to July,
severe rainfall deficiencies extend from the far southeast of South Australia
across western and central Victoria to southwest Gippsland. The area near and
to the southeast of Melbourne has recorded its driest March to July period on
record. Much of northern Tasmania is also affected by serious deficiencies
for this period, with severe deficits in the northeast. This most recent
period of deficient rainfall in southeastern Australia comes on top of below
average to record low 8-year rainfall totals in the same region.

7-month rainfall deficiencies

For the periods beginning in January (7-months)
and July 2004 (13-months), rainfall deficiencies
were either removed or eased across large parts of central and northwestern
Australia following very much above average to record
July rainfall. Areas that continue to be affected for the 7-month period
include an area just west of Brisbane, a large patch between Bourke (NSW) and
Charleville (Qld), parts of eastern WA and adjacent western SA, and patches
across the NT and northern Queensland.